138 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 138: Imprisoned Dragon Three talismans, glowing with a faint greenish light, hovered in mid-air, vibrating with resonating circles of energy between them. Yu Ming bit her finger and pressed a spot on each talisman. Forming a quick hand seal, she pointed towards the door, and all three talismans swiftly flew to attach themselves to it. Yu Ming chanted softly, her hand seals changing as spiritual energy surged forth— “Boom!!!” With a deafening explosion, the door was blasted away by the three explosive talismans, crashing against the wall and leaving a massive dent behind. She had spent days in a drunken stupor, her injuries still not fully healed. The effort of anxiously gathering her spiritual energy left her dizzy and breathless. As she leaned weakly against the table for support, she looked helplessly at the door she had just blown open. The scorching drafts swirled through the room, scattering the now ineffective paper talismans stuck around the room. The edges of the paper, ignited by the earlier sparks, drifted gently to the ground. Several disciples rushed in upon hearing the noise, their faces turning pale at the sight of the weakened Yu Ming. "Yu Ming Elder, are you... are you alright?" A female disciple hurriedly moved to support her as she wavered on her feet. The effects of her hangover just receding, Yu Ming found herself slightly unsteady. With the female disciple holding her arm, she bent over and dry-heaved for some time before shakily grabbing the disciple's collar, her voice urgent, “What happened? I heard shouting and fighting outside!” The disciple, also a bit flustered by Yu Ming's grip, suddenly fell silent at her question but held her hands tightly, “You need to calm down first... A lot happened last night…” Yu Ming then noticed how tired these disciples looked, their clothes dusted with dirt, one of them even having a hand bandaged. Her hopeful gaze turned hesitant as she saw the students’ complex expressions. Baffled, she stared at the tongue-tied girl, reading blame and pity in her eyes, which sent a chill through her heart for reasons she could not understand. “What happened?” she almost screamed in her anxiety, though unsure what she was truly seeking. The girl did not answer her question; instead, she asked, “If you heard the noise, why didn't you come out? Sister Long, she... she…” Yu Ming pushed through the crowd in disbelief and rage, striding quickly towards a certain direction. On the way, she grabbed a terrified disciple of Yu Cang Shan, “What day is it?” Surprised at seeing Yu Ming, the disciple seemed about to ask something, but her fierce presence made him swallow his words. Shakily, he replied, “June the seventeenth…” Yu Ming clenched her jaw, recalling the revelation about Long Rui Qing five days ago on the twelfth. Last night, when she had sensed the disturbance while still semi-conscious, she had tried to investigate, only to find her spiritual awareness obstructed by the walls of her room. Previously, the wards she had set up in the room were meant to block external interference, not to trap her. Such a situation was unprecedented. Hundreds of talismans were still pasted on the walls, and her formation appeared intact. Yet, when she tried to remove the talismans from the door, she found it impossible. The small, isolated space created by talismans and the protective array had always been a sanctuary for Yu Ming. In over two hundred years since reaching Nascence, there had only been two instances when she felt fear within her domain. The last time she felt helplessly confined, leaving herself vulnerable to the bullying of disciples far weaker and younger than herself, was still fresh in her mind. Less than a year later, she found herself feeling a similar dread. The talismans inside the room were untouched; the only possibility was external interference. Yu Ming's mind raced, quickly assessing that someone must have reversed her formation’s effects. Still, she could hear noises from outside, merely her spiritual sense and body were trapped, suggesting only the blocking and observational counteractions had been tampered with. Theoretically, this was possible — even without immense power, one need only skillfully use her meticulously laid barrier against her. But such a feat required someone both adept in the art of talismanry and deeply familiar with her personal wards. Aside from Long Rui Qing, whom she had personally taught for fifteen years, who else could manage this? When Xiang Shi Yan confronted her so harshly that day, Yu Ming knew she was not someone who would tolerate a spy like Long Rui Qing. Even if swift justice couldn't be administered to Long Rui Qing on Tianji Sect grounds, they would have at least detained her until returning to the mountain. Five whole days had passed, and according to the disciples, neither Long Rui Qing nor Xiang Shi Yan seemed out of the ordinary. A junior sister, known for her strict impartiality, would not let a traitor roam free, nor allow them an opportunity to trap Yu Ming inside her quarters. Some crucial detail eluded her understanding. Ever since she perceived that something major might be occurring last night, she had spent the entire night painstakingly using spiritual energy to pry off each talisman she had set, working non-stop until morning, finally dismantling the reversed formations in her room. She felt a pitiful sense of suffocation — too many things she did not understand nor wish to contemplate. Why always me? Rubbing her eyes, Yu Ming pushed open Xiang Shi Yan’s door. But inside was not her composed junior sister leisurely waiting with tea. After all, last night the rebellious faction of the Yao people had infiltrated the city. As an elder, Xiang Shi Yan had a duty to protect the disciples. The person just told her that the disciples of Yu Cang Shan were mostly unharmed, thanks to the utter dedication of the senior brothers and junior sisters in protecting them. Mostly... Huai Ye and He He were drawn by the commotion of her entry. They turned around, one dazed, the other's eyes red-rimmed, causing Yu Ming's words to catch in her throat. She stared blankly at Xiang Shi Yan, lying on the bed with no sign of life, realizing that the vibrant and radiant Moonwise Lord had become almost unrecognizable in her vulnerability. "Master Yu Ming, Sister Qing, she..." Seeing her, a crack seemed to appear on the otherwise vacant face of Huai Ye, seeping with helplessness and grief. The forlorn woman reacted as if hearing news of a stray kitten crushed underfoot, her sadness light and subdued. She cut Huai Ye off with a coldness that exceeded expectations, "She's dead, I already know. Are any other disciples hurt?" The cold indifference caught Huai Ye off guard, mixing disbelief and fear in her gaze, “Elder Jing Wu and Zheng Yi Wen were killed by the intruders; the other disciples were kept safe in their quarters and not harmed.” The girl’s eyes widened suddenly, flashes of last night’s chaos replaying in her mind. The turmoil had centered on the Tai Xu sect residing with them in the city’s north. Huai Ye was the first to sense the distant cries and shouts, accompanied by dense demonic aura. Their mentors noticed it too. Xiang Shi Yan and Li Huai had quickly set a defensive barrier at the Yu Cang Shan residence, instructing the older disciples to guard their juniors and oversee their safety. Then they split into two groups and left, Xiang Shi Yan heading towards Tai Xu Sect to check their situation, while Li Huai went to seek reinforcements from the Tianji Sect and evaluate other sects’ conditions—his position as the sect leader carried more weight. It had been confirmed that last night's attackers were part of the Yao faction, rebellious groups protesting against the Yao emperor's avoidance of war with mankind, keen on sparking conflict instead. Huai Ye knew little of factions and politics among the Yao, only aware that demon cultivators had stormed their courtyard, attacking anyone on sight. Although not weak, the attackers took some effort to break the protective barrier left by their teachers. Huai Ye had steadfastly protected He He, not letting him out of her sight. Whether from the dimness of the night or her grim, bloodied appearance, He He had seemed somewhat intimidated, attempting once to join his friends, but Huai Ye had been tasked specifically by Xiang Shi Yan to ensure his safety above all. Huai Ye and the others had managed to fend off one wave of attackers, but neither Xiang Shi Yan nor Li Huai had returned yet. They shouldn't have taken so long; something must have delayed them. Yu Cang Shan had four senior teachers traveling with them, but Yu Ming, claiming to have her spiritual flow disrupted, remained behind closed doors from the moment they arrived in Qingyuan City. Elder Jing Wu, at the time of the incident, was already out with disciple Zheng Yi Wen. Their absence meant the defense was almost inadequate. Fortunately, Huai Ye and others were there and faced only two or three stray enemies without any major danger. Huai Ye remembered vividly how, when Long Rui Qing said she was going out for a look, her behavior seemed unusually nonchalant. Growing up, she had always been like this. Huai Ye hadn't agreed — with the senior disciples absent, losing anyone was a risky prospect in itself, especially if danger lay outside Long Rui Qing might not handle alone. Huai Ye should have stopped her, but Long Rui Qing had assuredly insisted, hand on her shoulder, that she would be careful and flee at the first sign of trouble. Over the past decade or so, Long Rui Qing had never broken a promise to Huai Ye. Huai Ye harbored a peculiar blind trust for those who promised her such reassurances. Yet, neither Xiang Shi Yan nor Long Rui Qing returned safely to her side in the end. "She said she would definitely come back safe, and I let her go." The steadfast girl had stood guard over her younger siblings throughout the night, her body bearing unaddressed wounds inflicted by the invaders. At dawn, she was forced to personally tend to her dear friend's body. Then came her injured master, and to follow, Xiang Shi Yan, who stumbled back to their residence only to collapse into unconsciousness and remain that way. Yu Ming embraced the quietly sobbing girl, as Huai Ye's breakdown was contained yet tangible. She trembled lightly against Yu Ming's chest, her sobs barely audible, making it hard to tell she was weeping except for the hitch in her voice. "When she needed you, where were you?" It was unclear whether Huai Ye was accusing Yu Ming or berating herself, her murmur indistinct and blurred. Yu Ming closed her eyes with compunction, yet refrained from telling Huai Ye about being trapped by Long Rui Qing. She only patted her niece's head softly in comfort. “Rest now, leave the rest to me.” Huai Ye looked at her with tear-filled confusion. She opened her mouth to speak, but before uttering a word, her head drooped, slipping into deep sleep. Yu Ming affixed a talisman on her back, gently holding Huai Ye as she turned to He He, “Take her to her room to rest; leave your master to me.” The girl sat nearest to Xiang Shi Yan, seemingly lost in thought, her gaze absent as if unaware of Huai Ye and Yu Ming. With delicate care, she lightly caressed the hand of the unconscious Xiang Shi Yan in a manner almost tender, admiring, which sent an inexplicable chill through Yu Ming. She cleared her throat deliberately, snapping the girl out of her reverie. Handing the sleeping Huai Ye to He He, Yu Ming asked further, “Is your master’s injury serious?” “Senior Uncle said the external injuries aren’t grievous, but she isn’t waking up for some reason.” The girl rubbed her eyes, sore and red, but her gaze lingered plaintively on Xiang Shi Yan. Yu Ming reassured her, “Don’t worry, she was fine this morning, merely asleep for a few hours, probably exhausted from battle.” Even as she spoke, Yu Ming found her own words hard to believe. A Nascent Soul cultivator’s spirit and mind are incredibly resilient; mere fatigue or depleted spiritual energy shouldn't cause such prolonged unconsciousness, suggesting Xiang Shi Yan had encountered something grave. Yet she uttered no more, unable to vocalize such thoughts to the tearful young girl. Once the two disciples had been seen off, Yu Ming stood by Xiang Shi Yan's bed, staring down at her junior sister’s tightly furrowed brow, as if bound in a nightmare. Xiang Shi Yan habitually went without makeup, applying minimal cosmetics only on formal occasions more as a sign of respect than adornment. Yu Ming fetched a towel soaked in warm water to remove the makeup from her face. As the lip color wiped onto the towel, it revealed her pale lips. The cold sweat she was already wiping from Xiang Shi Yan’s body suggested turmoil. In her semi-conscious state, Xiang Shi Yan struggled against Yu Ming’s attempts to help, clutching her sleeve as though pursued in sleep. Fortunately, her injuries were superficial, not damaging her meridians or bones, easing Yu Ming’s worries. Yu Ming changed her into clean nightclothes and settled her back into bed—uncared for amidst the chaos, not managing her appearance left the Moonwise Lord looking rather disheveled. After a moment’s silent watching, she suddenly tucked her in gently. Upon closer inspection, the hands resting atop Yu Ming’s knees trembled incessantly. With her face hidden in her hands, she murmured almost inaudibly, “Why didn’t you tell me… I might have been able to help…” Quickly, she raised her head, disguising the action by wiping her tear-streaked face. The aggrieved sigh was subtle but telling. There indeed remained tasks she could address. Yu Ming retrieved a talisman paper, setting it upon the table. She unflinchingly sliced her palm with a dagger, letting the Nascent Soul-infused blood trickle into a cup, then drew a brush from her sleeve—her life-bound artifact. Dipping the tip into the cup, the vibrant red ink spread along the wolf hair bristles. Hastily binding her wound with a kerchief, she ignored the bloodstains on her sleeve as she vigorously applied it to the talisman. As she completed her calligraphy stroke, the blood ink emitted a soft azure glow as she breathed an exhale of relief. Without waiting for the ink to dry, Yu Ming held the brush in her mouth, freeing her hands to affix the freshly written talisman onto Xiang Shi Yan’s forehead. Complex hand seals formed in her fingers, she summoned her spiritual energy and pressed through the talisman into Xiang Shi Yan’s brow. The unconscious woman's body suddenly jolted. Her spiritual consciousness, trapped within her sea of awareness, quivered under the impact of the spiritual talisman. For but a fleeting instant, Yu Ming’s consciousness penetrated Xiang Shi Yan’s mindscape, though time stretched between awareness and reality. She was attempting to draw Xiang Shi Yan from the stagnant abyss of her sea of consciousness—only to suddenly lock eyes with a presence. Yu Ming’s spiritual form plunged into the lake-like mindscape. Xiang Shi Yan, its owner, was a focal point. As Yu Ming spotted her, Xiang Shi Yan was slowly sinking, her half-closed eyes unaware. Before Yu Ming could approach, a sinuous black shadow surged forth. The creature's head, a fusion of deer and snake, brushed its long snout against Xiang Shi Yan’s cheek. Oblivious, the woman's vacant eyes remained unseeing. Her body, limp, was ensnared by its serpentine form. A flick of its tail sent Yu Ming several meters back. The creature’s dark, armored scales enveloped Xiang Shi Yan protectively. Yu Ming watched in horror at the creature claiming Xiang Shi Yan's mindscape. An attack on a cultivator’s sea of consciousness—it was a domain where only the owner had absolute authority—was an unthinkable violation. She pushed through the overwhelming resistance, desperate to rescue her sinking sister. The snake-like being’s molten golden eyes fixated on her, asserting dominance. Its long snout nuzzled against its prize’s neck, claws gripping Xiang Shi Yan’s shoulders, waist, and legs, piercing her flesh. Her blood, like red mist, obscured the malicious behemoth beyond a crimson veil. This was indeed the entity that left Xiang Shi Yan comatose. It seemed each piece of Xiang Shi Yan’s secret life was a never-ending mystery to unravel. Author's Note: Thank you everyone for understanding. I've had some issues with my phone lately. I unintentionally reported a reader's comment while I was trying to view them amidst screen glitches. I don't know whom it was or how to apologize, so I’m addressing it here. I hope they do not leave me over this QAQ. 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